Patent Associate Attorney

Job Overview: A law firm in Wilmington, DE, is seeking a skilled Patent Associate Attorney to join its team. The ideal candidate will have 2-4 years of experience drafting and prosecuting US and international patent applications, particularly in the mechanical arts, with some exposure to electrical and software technologies.

Duties:

• Draft and prosecute US and international patent applications in the mechanical arts, with some involvement in electrical and software technologies.
• Conduct patentability and freedom-to-operate searches and analyses.
• Guide patent portfolio strategies and patent landscape assessments.
• Communicate with clients and inventors to understand inventions and strategize patent protection.

Requirements:

• Superior academic credentials, including a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Admission to at least one State Bar (Delaware Bar admission preferred).
• Ideally registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• 2-4 years of experience in patent prosecution, with a focus on mechanical arts and exposure to electrical/software technologies.

Skills:

• Excellent writing skills with a focus on technical and legal drafting.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with clients, inventors, and colleagues.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail in patent analysis and strategy.

Education and Certifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to at least one State Bar.
• Registration to practice before the USPTO (preferred).

This firm has given a lot of thought to the interplay between the New York and the New Jersey legal markets. Although one of the oldest and largest in New Jersey, this firm wants to capture the Manhattan type work at Manhattan type billing rates. Although they are not quite there yet, this firm has developed a structure that enables it to base the bulk of its personnel and resources in New Jersey, and have a small New York space from which to handle the 'big city' work. An interesting plan, to be sure. Associates here raves about the reasonable hours and the immediate responsibility, many of whom deal directly with clients and handle entire cases. This is one of the few New Jersey firms where you will see the reverse commute--attorneys leaving Manhattan to take advantage of pleasant work environment and excellent training ground.